BMW Group Creates New "Zinoro" Brand to Build EVs – Debuts in November

Since China as a country, and its road networks along with it, underwent a drastic process of modernization, and most of the work was done with innovative methods, EVs seem to have also found their place in the People’s Republic. Used by government and city officials, the police and taxi drivers, all-electric vehicles are already seeing active duty, and their numbers are only set to grow. Read more »

Ford to Debut an All-New Concept Model at the Shanghai Auto Show

Ford has announced it will reveal an all-new concept car at the Auto Shanghai 2013 on April 20. The U.S. automaker hasn’t provided any additional details on the study other than the car will have its global premiere at the show. Read more »

Honda to Present Production C Sedan and S MPV, Plus New Concept and Acura Study in Shanghai

There will be a lot to see and talk about at the Honda and Acura stands at the upcoming Auto Shanghai 2013 in China next week (April 20 to 29), as the Japanese manufacturer has prepared a multitude of world premieres, beginning with the production versions of the Honda Concept C and S, both of which were displayed for the first time at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show last April.

Honda said it will "display models substantially identical to the mass-production versions" of the C mid-size sedan (pictured above) and S compact minivan, both of which are scheduled to be introduced to the market this year.

Read more »

Cadillac to Produce ATS Compact Sedan in China

Like any other car manufacturer - premium or not, General Motors is keen on increasing its presence in China, which means more localized production. GM's luxury brand Cadillac wants to start building the all-new ATS compact sports sedan in the country as early as the end of this year, while it also has plans to import the new generation of the CTS mid-size executive saloon. Read more »

BMW X4 Concept Unveiled, Enters Production with Minor Changes Next Year [w/Videos]

If consumers want crossovers and SUVs (as all sales charts suggest), why should premium carmakers like BMW disagree? The brand with the roundel logo is keen to capitalize on the growth of this segment, something that is evident from the sales of its X-series models, which now account for one in every four new cars it delivers worldwide.

BMW has split its SUVs into two basic categories, the more mainstream "Sports Activity Vehicles" (SAV), which include the X1, X3 and X5, and the "Sports Activity Coupé" (SAC), which up until now, was represented only by the larger X6.

Today, the Bavarian carmaker previewed its second SAC model in the form of the X4 Concept, a couple of weeks ahead of its world premiere at the Shanghai Auto Show in China on April 21.

Read more »

Ford Mondeo Goes On sale in China as Europe Awaits Start of Spanish Production

Ever since its first generation, the Ford Mondeo has always been a mid-sized sedan designed for the European buyer. The first two iterations of the car were competent, but rather mediocre in many respects, including looks and driving dynamics, but once the third generation was launched, it all changed for the better. Read more »

New Nissan Friend-ME Concept Made with the Help of Chinese Designers

Nissan’s booth at the Auto China 2013 in Shanghai will include the brand’s first concept car developed with key input from Chinese designers. Called the "Friend-ME", the study has been shaped with the help of Chinese designers working at Nissan Design China in Beijing. Nissan says local designers were fully engaged in the design as well as the development process of the Friend-ME. Read more »

VW to Hire 50,000 Workers by 2018, Mostly Outside Europe

Volkswagen plans to employ 50,000 people by 2018, in its quest to become the world’s largest carmaker. Currently, Europe’s biggest automaker has around 550,000 employees worldwide. Most of the new jobs are expected to go outside the Eurozone, which has been affected by economic uncertainty for the past few years. Read more »

Maserati Confirms World Premiere for Shanghai Auto Show, Likely the New Ghibli Sports Sedan

Maserati just dropped an invitation to our email box concerning the world premiere of an unnamed new model at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show in China later this month.

This is what the invitation says: "Our World Premiere: A truly exciting discovery awaits you: the worldwide presentation of our newest model. Be the first to experience a stunning car, which will leave you breathless, confirming both the incomparable heritage of Maserati as well as its extraordinary future."

Read more »

Mercedes, BMW and Audi of China Investigated for Using…Asphalt as Sound Deadener

We had honestly not heard of asphalt (normally used to pave roads) being utilized as a sound deadening material, let alone by luxury automakers. However, the Administrative Center for Defective Products of China (DPAC) has announced that it will be launching an investigation into the use of the material by Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

It's actually not the manufacturers directly, but rather their Chinese joint-ventures (Beijing-Benz, Brilliance-BMW and FAW-VW).

Read more »

Suzuki Foretells Arrival of Authentics Sedan Concept via Teaser Ahead of Shanghai Show

Despite having pulled out of the US market, due to poor sales, Suzuki is still looking to expand its operation elsewhere. Now, they are aiming to boost their sales in China, with a new C-segment sedan designed to appeal specifically for buyers from the People's Republic. It's called the "Authentics" concept. Read more »

China's BAIC Picks Nicholas Cage to Promote New Senova Brand's Saab-Based Cars

Nicolas Cage, the well-known American actor who has made some questionable choices in his movie career, has been officially selected by BAIC of China as a brand ambassador for the automaker's new line of Senova-branded cars. Now 49, Cage was reportedly chosen because he is a familiar face for the target buyers for the new cars, which are males in their 40s. Read more »

Citroen Reportedly Preparing New DSX Crossover Study for Shanghai Show

It is pretty clear that Citroen is keen to build its image throughout Asia in general, but especially in China. After revealing the sleek DS Numero 9 concept at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, the French carmaker is said to be planning the world premiere of a new study named the DSX (or DX-S) at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show, which starts in April. Read more »

Volvo Dealers in China Accused of Boosting Sales Figures to Win Rebates

Volvo seemed rather pessimistic when it announced that it sold 11 percent fewer cars in China in 2012, than they did in 2011. As it turns out, however, that's not true, as it has just been discovered that over half of all Volvo dealers in the country falsified their sales figures in order to get extra incentives from the manufacturer for achieving a certain target. Read more »

VW Recalling 384,000 Cars in China for Faulty DSG Transmissions, May Cost Over $600 Million

Volkswagen will recall 384,181 vehicles sold in China to fix a gearbox problem about which the automaker has taken some heat within the last 12 months. The recall was announced by China’s quality watchdog, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, with VW confirming it in an email statement. Read more »

Watch How a Chinese Truck Driver Cuts Down on Delivery Costs

Usually, when you have to deliver a large and/or heavy load from a truck, you need one or more people to keep an eye on things for safety reasons and, of course, use either a forklift or a crane, depending on the weight and the size of the package.

However, all these things add up and cost time and money, which is something that doesn't sit well with all companies, especially if there's an easier solution…

Read more »